Weekend Open Thread: Beam Me Up Scottie Edition (Updated)

H. Clay Aalders
Weekend Open Thread
·20 Comments··3 views

Update: I can’t believe I forgot I saved this:

It was 2 weeks ago, and that brain cell was otherwise occupied. Now on with our original post.

 

Howdy folks. I know that Shatner never actually said that. The real quote is something like, “Scottie, two to beam up”. That just doesn’t have quite as good of a ring to it. Wil Wheaton is kind of a putz, but the it made me laugh. It would be nice to reboot the simulation for sure.

Not much is going on here. It was Press Day for the October issue on Wednesday. I didn’t have a bylined article, just Knife News and a lot of proof reading. Otherwise, nothing is really changing but the weather.

That was completely random, but at least it was blade themed.

Anyone have any big plans for Labor Day? I will be using the ZT0707 for my steak. We will probably go hiking on Sunday, but tomorrow is about college football and the Derby.

You all mentioned the Spyderco Clipitool, I think I neglected to hold the drawing the weekend I went camping with Dan Eastland and Joe Flowers. Since we don’t have a prize this week otherwise, I am going to pool those entries and the comments from this weekend. Maximum of 5 entries per date.

We have several free “above the fold” articles coming up over the next couple of weeks. We will be posting Del Corsi’s cover article from our September issue on Tuesday.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEvU_Kwj2Xq/

Del also has a couple of online exclusive articles coming down the pike, and I will have at couple as well. One on the Benchmade Custom Knife Builder adding the Bugout to the system. They have given me code for a free knife, so I will ask you all to help me spec it out.

In the mean time, it is fun to play with, even if you aren’t going to make a purchase. The 360degree rotating 3D rendering is pretty cool.

https://www.benchmade.com/custom-knife-builder

That is about all I have for tonight. Be well, stay safe, and have a great Labor Day weekend.

Where did the summer go?

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H. Clay Aalders

H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. Clay’s primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the Knife Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine.

20 Responses

  1. I just started playing around with the custom builder on Benchmade’s site. It would be great if Spyderco had something similar.

    Reply

  2. i remember playing with the custom builder when it was first setup for the minigrip.
    me, i’m partial to a good royal purple. get some o’ that on there even if it’s a minor detail. and of course a modded wharny or whatevs; sheepy, reverse tonko.
    it has to be rex121.

    Reply

  3. Okay Clay, I was finally able to use my cell phone to access Benchmade’s knife builder page. My laptop and tablet kept getting disconnected.. Technology! Not knowing your intended purpose, but assuming the knife would be an occasional EDC, weekend hike with the kids, maybe going fishing knife, These are my thoughts. CS20 smooth edged drop point blade. Seems to be their best steel for edge retention. Along creeks etc you’ll need to be able to spot it easily should it be on the ground. So scales should “pop” against ground. So depending on your primary use, and how the scales look in person, I’d go with White, Crimson, or Orange scales. I’d keep all the metal parts (screws, locks etc) brushed steel. I’d add a touch of color on the thumb stud if going with White scales. (Blue as a nod to my alma mater or green for my birthstone. So go with a color that will mean something to you and will be a conversation starter!). If going with crimson, then either matching thumb stub or whites-yeah, a little SAK inspired, but it works!. Orange or black thumb stud with orange scales.
    Me, I’d go with White scales as my first choice. Color will pop in the woods; looks sharp in the photos on Benchmark’s page, and gives you wardrobe options for nights on the town!

    Reply

  4. You folks appear to be having some excellent fun! Stuart B. gets my vote for best knife story. Opinel No. 8 w/modifications. Bill Moran modified an Opinel. It is in the book, “Master of the Forge”, page 188. Last week, I bought a Fallkniven HK9 at an on-line auction. First time doing that and very pleased with the knife. I drove down to Winchester, VA to pick it up. The “HK9” debut was in 2009. The sheath is an original brown leather one. (New sheaths are black). The “G3” steel is ‘Super Gold Powdered Steel (SGPS) sandwiched between “V2”. Of course, Fallkniven is known for their laminate steels. So, I now own a “Falky”. At the same auction, I got a Canal Street Cutlery (CSC) swell center jack w/bone scales marked on the pivot-end bolster: “095”. “CSC” originated in 2005 after Imperial Schrade went kaput. Sad day in the Hudson Valley. All those great names: Schrade, Ulster, Imperial, Challenge, Walden, Napanoch et al, that Al Baer combined into Imperial Schrade . . . gone. “CSC’ lasted ten years as a boutique knifemaker in downtown (Canal Street) Ellenville, NY. They had about ten craftsman with Wally Gardiner and Joe Hufnagel leading them in producing what Joe Kertzman called, “High quality, grandpa pocket knives.” I am looking for more information on “CSC” as my knife did not have its box nor the documentation, i.e. paperwork with the specifications (“CSC” did not stamp a “pattern number” on its knives). The January 2016 “Knife” reported the closing of “CSC”. Wally Gardiner tried a comeback as “CSC Co-op” but to no avail as it dissolved in 2018. Any leads on “CSC” is much appreciated. Hocky

    Reply

    1. Hocky – just modest mods really to get Opinels to work better for me; I file the spine profile to get rid of the French up-flick (Insert silly French name here) to make it a slight drop point, re-grind the convex edge so its even and/or sharp, and you always seem to have to tune up that turn lock and the vertical alignment of the blade so that it aligns better with the handle. The joy of cheap knives to to make them your own, or at least get the best out of them for what they are.

      Reply

  6. nice day to pass out on a park bench. i’ll be outstanding in my field for 16hrs, so, pork tenderloin at 22:00! slice that up with the old japanese carver brought back to life from rusty neglect (known him for years). the platter will have my homemade mustard rehydrated with some spoiled twenty year old liebfraumilch my mom was gonna toss. i can’t subject normals to my hot sauce so i’ll set out some grace very hot xaymaican. (.99cents= bargain) and a fresh serrano.
    genny cream ales for everyone!

    Reply

  7. Took the family on a short hike this morning. Kids got to play in the creek, catch a few things- toad, frog, crayfish, salamander… all that fun stuff.
    Grilling with friends tonight.
    Grilling with family on Monday.
    Should be a good weekend.

    Reply

      1. I have a green color Inox version, see response to Hocky for mods. To mod the handle its better to get a plain wood finish

        Reply

  8. I made it back, 4 days on the Timberline Trail, all on ONE knife! OK, there may have been a small classic SAK in the first aid kit, but for scissors only, you understand. Actually it was pretty nice just having just the one blade, I took the Opinel No8 Inox that I modded, reminded me of the firearms crowd saying ‘watch out for the man with one gun’. I got used to the knife, at under 2 oz it sat unnoticed in my pocket and easily managed all the usual camp chores well along with a bit of idle whittling. It even worked out well for popping blisters, as my mates $400 Shebenza 21 was too blunt at the tip compared to my $15 blade. He took the Shebenza, an Izula AND a Vulture Equipment Cholera fixed blade, maybe 16oz of extra carry weight and didn’t seem to use any of them!

    The hike was absolutely stunning, Mt Hood was just far enough north to avoid the smoke from the wild fires, perfect weather and no bugs. The views out to Mt Rainier, Adam, St Helens and Jackson were epic. Oregon is a blessed place.

    The whole trip was a nice lesson on getting by with less, helped further by leaving my phone back in the car, so I could fully escape the current nonsense plaguing the country. Its just the re-entry back that’s tough.

    Reply

    1. Stuart, glad you had a good trip ’round Hood. You seem to have timed it perfectly as the winds have changed and we are now sopped in with smoke from the White River Fire. Opinel No8 has been on my list for a while, perhaps its time to try one out. Last week I got my new Kizer Lancer 2, pretty knife, nice blade. Action is eh, hopefully just needs more breaking in.

      Reply

    1. Low and slow. I’ll use my Weber and my rather old Smokenator 2000. Will trim it a little, (knife reference!) then apply rub this afternoon. I’ll get up early tomorrow to fire this vs up. Aiming for it to cameo off at 3:30-4 so there’s plenty of time to let it rest, pull it etc.

      Reply

  10. I learned long ago I’m terrible at picking horse races. A man’s got to know his limitations!
    “Tiz the Law” sounds like the name of a country band! With “New York Traffics, Thousand Words and Authentic” as hit singles from their debut album!
    I keep getting tossed out of the Benchmade customizer. I’ll try again later.
    Quiet weekend here. Going to do pulled pork for Labor day. Oldest and her family coming over for the afternoon/evening. Heading out in search of a fine looking pork shoulder.
    Enjoy your holiday weekend!

    Reply

    1. Apparently, I’m also bad at picking horse… the final results look nothing like my picks.
      Guess I have to go back to work on Tuesday, after all.

      Reply

  11. Which horse do you think will win the kentucky derby later? I think I’m pulling for “tiz the law” or “ny traffic” solely based on their names.

    Reply

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